Change Readiness Questionnaire
How well do you adjust to changing situations at work and in life? Take this quick assessment and learn more about your skills, attitudes and opportunities for growth.
Instructions
1
Strongly disagree
2
Disagree
3
Slightly Disagree
4
Slightly Agree
5
Agree
6
Strongly Agree
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|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | I prefer the familiar to the unknown. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 2 | I rarely second guess myself. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 3 | I’m unlikely to change plans once they’re set. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 4 | I can’t wait for the day to get started. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 5 | I believe in not getting your hopes too high. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 6 | If something’s broken, I’ll find a way to fix it. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 7 | I get impatient when there are not clear answers. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 8 | I’m inclined to establish routines and stay with them. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 9 | I can make any situation work for me. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 10 | When something important doesn’t work out, it takes me time to adjust. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 11 | I have a hard time relaxing and doing nothing. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 12 | If something can go wrong, it usually does. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 13 | When I get stuck I’m inclined to improvise solutions. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 14 | I get frustrated when I can’t get a grip on something. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 15 | I prefer work that is familiar and within my comfort zone. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 16 | I can handle anything that comes along. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 17 | Once I’ve made up my mind, I don’t easily change it. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 18 | I push myself to the max. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 19 | My tendency is to focus on what can go wrong. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 20 | When people need solutions to problems, they call on me. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 21 | When an issue is unclear, my impulse is to clarify it right away. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 22 | It pays to stay with the tried and true. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 23 | I focus on my strengths, not my weaknesses. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 24 | I find it hard to give on something even if it’s not working out. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 25 | I’m restless and full of energy. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 26 | Things rarely work out the way you want them to. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 27 | My strength is to find ways around obstacles. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 28 | I can’t stand to leave things unfinished. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 29 | I prefer the main highway to the back road. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 30 | My faith in my abilities is unshakable. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 31 | When in Rome, do as the Romans do. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 32 | I’m a vigorous and passionate person. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 33 | I’m more likely to see problems than opportunities. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 34 | I look in unusual places to find solutions. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
| 35 | I don’t perform well when there are vague expectations and goals. | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 |
Scoring
To calculate your scores, please follow the instruction below
Your Profile
To better understand each trait, please read the descriptions below
You’ll probably find that you have higher scores on some attributes and lower scores on others. This is typical of most profiles and indicates that some of your Change Readiness traits are more developed than others. The good news is that you can develop new skills and attitude to better respond to change. Ask yourself the following questions:
The Seven Traits of Change Readiness
The scale you’ve just taken measures the following traits
Resourcefulness
Resourceful people are effective at making the most of any situation and utilizing whatever resources are available to develop plans and contingencies. They see more than one way to achieve a goal, and they’re able to look in less obvious places to find help. They have a real talent for creating new ways to solve old problems.
When people low in resourcefulness encounter obstacles, they get stuck and dig in their heels. Very high scorers (over 26) might overlook obvious solutions and create more work than is necessary. Optimal scorers know that every problem has a solution. If anyone can find it, they will. They’re very handy when it comes to discovering innovative ways to deal with change.
Optimism
Optimism is highly correlated with change readiness since the pessimist observes only problems and obstacles, while the optimist recognizes opportunities and possibilities. Optimism is a reflection of your frame of reference, and your frame of reference is influenced by your disposition. The good news is that you can modify either. Very high optimism scorers (over 26) may lack critical thinking skills.
Adventurousness
The inclination to take risks and the desire to pursue the unknown, to walk the path less taken. Since change always involves both risk and the unknown, Adventurous people tend to perform well during organizational shake-ups and transitions. However, very high scorers (over 26) may indicate a tendency toward recklessness.
Drive
Combines physical energy and mental desire to make things happen. It’s the fuel that maximizes all the other traits. If you have drive, nothing appears impossible. If you don’t, change is exhausting. Very high scores (over 26) may mean you’re bullheaded, obsessed, and heading for burnout.
Adaptability
Flexibility and resilience. Flexibility involves ease of shifting expectations. Flexible people have goals and dreams like everybody else, but they’re not overly invested in them. When something doesn’t work, they’ll try something else. Resilience is the capacity to rebound from adversity quickly. Scoring too high (over 26) indicates a lack of commitment or stick-to-it-ness.
Confidence
If optimism is the view that a situation will work out, confidence is the belief in your own ability to handle it. There is a direct correlation between levels of confidence and receptivity to change. If people feel confident in their ability to handle a new task, they’ll be more receptive to it and more positive about it. Scores above 26, however, may indicate a cocky, know-it-all attitude and a lack of receptivity to feedback.
Tolerance for Ambiguity
Change leads to uncertainty. No matter how carefully you plan for change, there is always an element of indefiniteness or ambiguity. When things are vague, in flux, or unclear, people who are uncomfortable with ambiguity get impatient and irritable. They want answers fast and they want them now. The result is that decisions are forced and made too quickly. Without a healthy tolerance for ambiguity change can be quite uncomfortable and almost scary. But too much tolerance (score above 26) can also get you in trouble. You may have difficulty finishing tasks and making decisions.